Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-05-11

| temptation for his prudent resolves.
A ride, long, swift, glorious ride over
sandy levels; between brown bluffs;
past an OCCASIONAL farm house, where
stacks stand yellow and tall; through
rafting skeletons of thickets and shall
low sweeps of water; up. down, and
across, until the patriarch of the herds
starts up before them. The cattle he
has been lying among scatter out lazily.
but old Abe meets his foes with the
glare of gladiator.
A fierce brute he is, and strong.
Look at his wide horns, circled with
the rings of many years; at the power
full muscles showing beneath his tawny
hide, and the long limbs that have
crushed through many strong in
closure. Nothing about him tells of
ownership; there is neither cut on his
ears or soar on his hide. No roundup
could gather him in, nor corral secure
him; therefore, convention of "cow
punchers" suggested general action
against the outlaw, and, the words were
uttered at time when any diversion
was welcome. To mortals condemned
to the endless solitude and soul wearing
monotony of those vast level plains,
the time must come when even a
shooting scrape is hailed with glad re-
lief.
"Thar he is .boysr' shouts Tom
Jenkins. Thar! Ketch him and he's
your'n.
"a DEVILS prise at the best; but here
goes" muttered Thompson, pushing
forward with the boy beside him.
HIP The dogs are at him, with barks
that become yelps as the brindle gives
them taste Of his heels. Down the
valley. oyer the uplands and the dry
creek bottoms, away they go, in a
noisy race against the crisp west wind,
tornado Of Gathering hoofs, jingling
spurs and loose trappings. The sun
beats hot upon them, the dust flies up
from the plain. One by one the dogs
sneak off to the rear, the ponies flag;
yet old Abe is as fresh for break of q
mile or so, as ready for savage dash
at timid horse or rider.
"Give it up. He amt wuth itr' cry
the weaker spirits, drawing rein upon
a hill, the defiant brute cycling them
from safe distance.
"Do ez you please" growled Long
Jake, "but eff you fellers quit I won't,
that's all"
Neither will I,"put in Jimmy, look
ing foolish, as a laugh was raised at his
expense. Because a square look at
you would scare him to death any
day." He turned away, glad to have
avenged his former defeat. That readi-
ness of tongue which others laughed at
and passed over in the boy angered the
herder unaccountably. Besides, he felt
sore at the failure of his boast to cap
ture the prize in an hour.
"Come on boys" proposed Jenkins.
"My camps just around the bend. If
we can run him into the big stone cor
raj we've got him, sure; if not let's
stop and take fresh start in the morn
ing"
"All right" choruscd the others.
"Look ycre, Jimmy, "said Al Thomp-
son, as their two horses trotted down
the slope together, ''you ies' take my
advice an let Jake alone. It's precious
easy to git him hot, an they say he
killed man down on the Divide"
80, give us rest, amt afraid.
Why does he keep trying to rifle me
all the time just because I'm a boy.
~ too mann -
"Go ahead, then. You're pretty
smart, Jim Rowell, but tell you it
don't do no Teller good to be too
smart; mebbe you'll find it out some
day."
The second chase proved no more
successful than the first. Cunning Old
Abe put in his "best ticks" for their
enlightenment, and when they gave it
up still seemed unwearied. Tom
sprang from his horse to do the honors
of his residence.
"Light, gentlemen, light and make
yourselves ut home. Things is little
out of order, consequent on the missus
not having got back from Saratogy,
but you'll find the mornin' papers in
the lib'ry. The key of the pianer's on
the bureau in my dressin' room. Eff
you like, take turns i'm admirin' the
scenery, the long shadders of the chick
ems fallin' to the BASTARD, an the
kingly rooster as he glides forth from
the barn"
The mansion whose hospitality was
offered in this grandiloquent style was
an extremely scaly-looking dug-out,
probably measuring ten by twelve feet.
Outside inspection revealed one
small door and window, q variegated
supply of oyster-cans, barrels, and not
a few empty bottlcs-which last, how
ever, were modestly disposed in the
background. A broom had been placed
outside, as if for display, but a donkey
at a distance was solemnly making a
meal of il. A small flock of emaciated
chickens gathered expectantly in vain,
for Tom had the masculine habit of
neglccting his chickens. Two thrifty
looking objects redeemed the appear
ancc of his ranchcs-a fine barn and q
corral with high stone walls. Yet he
was n lord of many herds, who might
drive in his carriage if he pleased.
Without further study of this bache-
lor's hall, we will follow the herders as
they make for the well, tired, thirsty,
yet good-natured-all but Jake, who
finds Jim dealing out water with q tin
cup, the only one at hand. His scowl
deepcned trife with impotence.
Here, AL" said Jim, looking from
Jake to Thompson, who stood beside
him, "age before beauty"
The an swcring smiles stung the bor-
der vagabond. Snatching the cup and
fipging the contents full in Jim's face,
Clear yourself, you young scampW
he ordered.
Flushing savagely the boy caught
something from his side, but Thomp-
sons powerful hand was on his arm.
"What do Won ,neau Won little fool pD